A 24-year-old man from Shurugwi, Zimbabwe, Tatenda Masunda, faces murder charges after allegedly administering acid to his three-month-old stepdaughter, leading to her tragic death.
Authorities report that Masunda used acid commonly employed in gold extraction, which caused the infant’s death shortly after ingestion.
Masunda, a resident of Donga and an employee at Nash 1 Mine, appeared before Magistrate Patricia Gwetsai, who ordered him to remain in custody pending further investigation. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 15, 2024, to face charges that have shocked the community.
According to reports, the incident took place last Friday. Masunda allegedly returned home carrying a 200ml spirit bottle filled with acid, which he concealed inside the house. Early in the morning, the child’s mother, Muchaneta Zindera, left home to wash clothes at a community borehole two kilometers away. Masunda reportedly asked her to leave the baby, Tatenda Junior Hwacha, in his care. Once alone with the child, he allegedly administered the acid, causing her to cry in pain.
Shortly after, Masunda took the baby back to her mother before fleeing the area. Recognizing the baby’s deteriorating condition, Zindera rushed her to Zvamabande Hospital, from which she was later transferred to Shurugwi District Hospital. Tragically, the child passed away upon arrival.
Masunda was apprehended in Chegutu on Tuesday, November 12, after evading capture by fleeing Shurugwi. He has since been charged with murder, with prosecutor Tafadzwa Guzete outlining the case against him in court.